Distributor with removable breaker cam and points



' June-17, 1969 E. P. PRINS I DISTRIBUTOR WITH REMOVABLE BREAKER CAM AND POINTS Filed Sept. 21. 19s,?

Sheet INVENTOR. ETIEUUE P Paws E. PVPRINS June 17,1969

DISTRIBUTOR WITH REMOVABLE BREAKER C AM AND POINTS Filed Sept.2l, 19s? Sheet of 3 INVENTOR. Enemue P Plum June 17, 1969 v I E. P. PRIINS 3, 50,848

; DISTRIBUTOR WITH REMOVABLE BREAKER CAM AND POINTS Filed Sept. 21, 1967 ,7 Sheet 3 of s INVENTOR. ETIEUUE P. Pizuus BY 6%, l

United States Patent US. Cl. 20022 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A distributor with a removable breaker cam and points of the type utilized with an internal combustion engine, comprising a support plate defining an aperture inserted over the upper end of the distributor drive shaft, a breaker cam freely rotatably supported in the aperture by the support plate and slidably received over the upper end of the drive shaft in such a manner as to be rotata'bly secured to the drive shaft, and circuit breaker points sup ported on the support plate adjacent the breaker cam and responsive to the rotation of the breaker cam to open and close an electrical circuit. The support plate, circuit breaker points, and breaker cam are removable from the distributor housing as a unit, so that the gap of the points can be set at a point remote from the engine.

Background of the invention When adjusting the points of a distributor of an automobile, the mechanic rnust work directly over the distributor, which is usually mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle. Since the distributor is a vital part of the vehicle, its location in the engine compartment is usually such that it cannot be conveniently reached or adjusted by a mechanic unless the mechanic virtually climbs over the fender of the vehicle and into the engine compartment. When in such a position, the mechanic cannot retain free use of his arms while making the necessary adjustments to the distributor since he must partially support his body with his arms, and his freedom of movement is limited by the crowded condition of the engine compartment and the residual heat retained by the engine.

When adjusting the gap of a distributor, the mechanic is sometimes forced to use a mirror to properly observe the components of the distribtor, and during the adjustment procedure, it is usually necessary to turn over the engine of the vehicle with the starter until the rubbing block of the distributor is on a high point of the breaker cam. Thus, the mechanic must alternately observe the position of the breaker cam with respect to the rubbing block and actuate the starter, or have another person operate the starter While the points and rubbing block are observed. Thus, the adjustment of the electrical distributor of a vehicle is usually a difficult and prolonged operation under present day conditions.

Summary of the invention This invention relates to a distributor having a breaker cam and points which are removable from the distributor housing as aunit so that the breaker points can be adjusted while removed from the engine. The breaker cam, breaker arm, and condenser are mounted on a support plate and the breaker cam defines a central opening which is slidably inserted over the distributor drive shaft in such a manner that it is rotatably secured thereto, and the support plate is properly positioned within the distributor housing.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a distributor with a removable breaker cam and points so that 3,450,848 Patented June 17, 1969 the points of the distributor can be adjusted at a location remote from the engine of a vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide appara- Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical distributor for an internal combustion engine, showing the removable support plate to which are connected the condenser, breaker arm assembly, and breaker cam.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the replacements components for existing distributors, which includes the support plate and its condenser, breaker arm assembly, and breaker cam;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the support plate and its breaker cam;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the support plate with the break. er cam removed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified support plate;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another modified support plate; and,

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the breaker plate and the container in which it is stored and shipped.

Description of the embodiments Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows distributor 10 having housing 11, support plate assembly 12, rotor 13, and cap 14. Housing 11 includes stem 15 which supports drive shaft 16 and breaker cam stem 17 which is telescoped over the drive shaft 16, stationary support platform 18, and vacuum diaphragm assembly 19. The upper portion of housing 11 is dish-shaped, and support platform 18 is rigidly connected thereto by screws 20 and 21. Pivot post 22- extends upwardly from stationary support platform 18. Vacuum diaphragm assembly includes diaphragm housing 24, connecting stem 25, and link 26, which defines aperture 27 in its end remote from diaphragm housing 24.

Connecting stem 25 is adapted to be connected to the carburetor of the engine so as to subject the diaphragm (not shown) within diaphragm housing 24 to a variable pressure source. Movement of the diaphragm causes link 26 to move toward or away from diaphragm housing 24.

Conventional cap springs or bales 28 are connected to the enlarged upper portion of housing 11 and function to hold cap 14in rigid connection with housing 11. Coil connecting wire 29 is connected at one of its ends to the coil (not shown) of the electrical system, and the other of its ends extend through opening 30 in the side of the enlarged portion of housing 11, and is electrically connected to the points and condenser of the distributor.

Pivotal platform 31 is positioned above stationary support platform 18 and defines a centrally located aperture 32 of a size larger than upwardly extending breaker cam stem 17, and is loosely inserted about stem 17. Pivot hole 34 is defined in a raised area or protrusion 33 of platform 31 and is sized and positioned to be inserted over pivot post 22 of support platform 18. Thus, pivotal platform 31 is pivotal about pivot post 22. Locating apertures 35 and 37 are defined at strategic points about pivotal platform 31 so that support plate assembly 12 can be connected to pivotal platform 31 by screws extending through these apertures, and apertured recess 36 is defined in pivotal platform 31 to receive a component of support plate 39. Link connecting post 38 extends upwardly from pivotal platform and is positioned to extend through aperture 27 of link 26 of vacuum diaphragm assembly 19.

Support plate assembly 12 includes support plate 39, condenser 40, and breaker arm assembly 41. Support plate 39 includes breaker cam aperture 42, breaker arm support post 43, pivot post aperture 44, point post 51, connector post 52, and locating apertures 45 and 47. Breaker arm assembly 41 includes breaker arm 48, rubbing block 49, and spring 50. Point post 51 is struck upwardly from the body of support plate 39 and supports contact point 54, while breaker arm 40' supports contact point 55. Condenser 40 is connected to support plate 39 in the usual manner, as by soldering, and electrical connection is made to the condenser 40 through wire 56, connector post 52, and coil connecting wire 29.

Breaker cam aperture 42 of support plate 39 is generally of elliptical configuration, and the axis 58 of its shorter diameter extends through rubbing block 49 and the center of pivot post aperture 44, while axis 59 of its longer diameter extends normal to the shorter axis. Breaker cam 60 is inserted into breaker cam aperture 42 and includes an outer metallic cam surface 61 and an inner nylon connecting sleeve 62. Connecting sleeve 62 is fabricated in two sections, upper section 64 and lower section 65. Upper section 64 rigidly supports metallic cam surface 61 and is counterbored at 66. The outer diameter of lower section 65 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of counterbore 66, and is telescopically received therein. Lower section 65 terminates at its lower end in outwardly extending annular flange 68. Breaker cam aperture 42 defined by support plate 39 is of smaller diameter along its axis 58 than the outside diameter of upper and lower sections 64 and 65 of connecting sleeve 62, so that when lower section 65 is telescopically received in upper section 64 from opposite sides of support plate 39, breaker cam 60 is rotatably connected to support plate 39.

The inside diameters of upper and lower sections 64 and 65 of connecting sleeve 62 of breaker cam 60 are substark tially equal so that a smooth junction is created between these sections when assembled, as is shown in FIG. 3. The inside diameters of upper and lower sections 64 and 65 are substantially equal to the outside diameter of upwardly extending breaker cam stem 17, and upper section 64 includes an inwardly extending connector projection 67 which is sized and shaped to be received in slot 17a of breaker cam stem 17. Thus, breaker cam 60 is rotatably connectable to breaker cam stem 17 by inserting connector projection 67 of breaker cam 60 into slot 17a of breaker cam stem 17 With this construction, pivotal platform 31 is connected to distributor housing 11 by inserting its pivot hole 34 over upwardly extending pivot post 22 of support platform 18 and by connecting link 26 of vacuum diaphragm assembly 19 to its link connecting post 38, so that pivotal platform 31 is pivotal about pivot post 22 under the influence of diaphragm assembly 19. Support plate 39 is connected to pivotal platform 31 by a sliding breaker cam 60 over breaker cam stem 17, positioning pivot post aperture 44 about protrusion 33 of pivot hole 34 and inserting threaded cap screws (not shown) through aligned locating apertures 35 and 45, and 37 and 47 of pivotal platform 31 and support plate 39, respectively. Thus, support plate 39 will be firmly connected to pivotal platform 31. When pivotal platform 31 pivots under the influence of vacuum diaphragm assembly 19, support plate 39 will slide about breaker cam 60 with breaker cam aperture sliding along its longer axis 59 about breaker cam 60, so that breaker cam 60 will not bind the movement of support plate 39. Since axis 58 of the shorter diameter of breaker cam aperture 42 extends through rubbing block 49 and the center of pivot post aperture 44, rubbing block 49 will remain a constant distance away from breaker cam 60 throughout the movement of support plate 39 with respect to breaker cam 60.

Rotor 13 is connected to breaker cam stem 17 in the usual manner, by inserting its aperture and its inwardly projecting protrusion (not shown) over breaker cam stem 17. Cap 14 is connected to housing 11 by cap springs or bales 28, in the usual manner.

While an entire distributor assembly has been shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows replacement components which can be utilized with existing distributors. The replacement components include drive shaft 16, breaker cam stem 17, their centrifugally actuated weights, and related compopents and support plate assembly 12. When the corresponding components of an existing distributor are removed, the components of FIG. 2 can be used as their replacement parts.

FIG. 5 shows a modified support plate 70 and includes point post 71, breaker arm support post 72, and connector post 73. Locating apertures and 77 are defined in support plate 70 so that the support plate can be connected to pivotal platform 31 of the distributor. The breaker cam is connected to support plate by means of sliding link 78. Sliding link 78 defines a circular aperture 79 through which the breaker cam is rotatably connected, and slot 80. Cap screw or brad 81 extends through slot into support platform 70, so that a sliding connecting is created between support platform 70 and sliding link 78. Thus, with this construction, the breaker cam is movable with respect to support plate 70, the movement being limited only by the dimensions of slot 80'.

FIG. 6 shows another modification of the support plate and includes support plate 83, point post 84, breaker arm support post 85, and connector post 86. Locating apertures 87 and 88 are positioned for alignment with locating apertures 35 and 37 of pivotal platform 31. Pivotal link 89 is pivotally connected to support platform 83 by means of brad 90. Circular aperture 91 is defined in pivotal link 89, and a breaker cam is connected to pivotal link 89 through its aperture 91. A central opening 92 of brad 90 is of a diameter equal to the outside diameter of protrusions 33 of pivot hole 34 of pivotal platform 31, and is adapted to fit over protrusions 33. Thus, when support plate 83 is inserted into distributor housing 11, the breaker cam fitted into aperture 91 of pivotal link 89 will slide over breaker cam stem 17, opening 92 of brad 90 will fit about raised portion 33 of pivot hole 34 of pivotal platform 31, and locating apertures 87 and 88 will be placed in proper alignment with locating apertures 35 and 37 of pivotal platform 31.

As is shown in FIG. 7, the support plate assembly can be stored and shipped in a container 94 that includes a platform 95 with an enlarged aperture 96 of a diameter equal to the outside diameter of flange 68 of breaker cam 60 and apertures 97 and 98 which correspond to the 10- cating apertures of pivotal platform 31. Aperture 99 accommodates the extension of breaker arm support post 43 which extends below the bottom surface of support plate 39. The fabrication of box 94 and its platform 95 in this manner is such that when support plate assembly 12 is first received and is to be used as a replacement part, the box and platform provide a convenient surface for holding the support plate while the points are checked to determine if the proper gap has been set between the points.

At this point, it should be apparent that the disclosed invention provides a procedure for replacing or adjusting the points of a distributor which is convenient and expedient. The points of the distributor can be removed together with the breaker cam by merely removing the distributor cap 14, rotor 13, disconnecting coil connecting wire 29 from connector post 52 of support plate assembly 12 and loosening the cap screws (not shown) in locating apertures 45 and 47. Support plate 39 can then be slid in an upward direction over breaker cam stem 17 until it is free from the distributor. Since breaker cam 60 is attached to support plate 39, it is removed with the support plate along with breaker arm 40 and its rubbing block 49. Thus, the mechanic has the breaker cam, breaker arm, and points conveniently available so that the gap between the points can be adjusted, as necessary. After the gap has been adjusted, the support plate assembly 12 can be inserted back into the distributor housing 11, the rotor 13 and the distributor cap 14 repositioned, and engine started to confirm the proper setting of the distributor points. When support plate assembly 12 has been removed from the distributor housing, breaker cam 60 can be rotated by hand to any position desired, and the points can be observed when rubbing block 49 is in contact with either a high or low point on the breaker cam.

While the support plate assembly 12 has been illustrated as being fabricated with its support plate 39 of metal and its breaker cam .60 of nylon and metal, it should be apparent that various other materials can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, breaker cam 60 can be fabricated entirely from metal, nylon, plastic, or various other material, as can support plate 39.

While three embodiments of the support plate have been illustrated, it should be apparent that various other configurations are within the scope of the invention. The support plate should be fabricated so that its rubbing block is movable with respect to the breaker cam in a direction which extends generally laterally of the rubbing block; that is, in a direction such that the rubbing block moves not toward and away from the breaker cam, but in an are about the breaker cam so as to function to advance or retard the timing of the contact of the points with respect to the operation of the engine.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present inevntion without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. In an electrical distributor for connection to the spark plugs of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine wherein a drive shaft is driven in timed response to the operation of the engine and rotates movable weights and an upstanding stem and wherein the upstanding stem is rotatable with respect to the drive shaft in response to the movement of the weights, the improvement therein compnsmg:

a support plate defining an aperture for insertion about an upstanding stem of a distributor,

a breaker cam rotatably supported by said support plate within the aperture and defining a central opening for slidable connection onto an upstanding stem of a distributor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said breaker cam is attached to the support plate in such a manner that it is movable in the plane of the support plate.

3. The invention of claim 1 and further including a condenser, breaker arm assembly, rubbing block, and contact points, all connected to said support plate.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said breaker cam is attached to the support plate in such a manner that it is movable with respect to the support plate in a plane normal to the axis of its central opening and in a direction extending generally normal with respect to a line extending between the center of the breaker cam and the rubbing block.

5. An electrical distributor assembly of the type utilized with a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine comprising:

a distributor drive shaft for connection to an engine and rotatable in timed response to the operation of the engine,

movable weights connected to said drive shaft and movable with respect to said drive shaft in response to centrifugal force,

an upstanding hollow stem inserted over one end of the drive shaft and connected to said movable weights in such a manner that the stem is movable with respect to the drive shaft in response to the movement of the weights with respect to the drive shaft,

a support plate defining an aperture inserted over said hollow stem,

a diaphragm assembly connected to said support plate and responsive to a change in pressure to move the support plate in a plane normal to the axis of said hollow stem,

a breaker cam freely rotatably supported by said support plate and slidably received over said hollow stem in such a manner to be rotatably secured to the hollow stem, said breaker cam being supported by said support plate in such a manner that it is movable with respect to the support plate in a plane normal to the axis of the hollow stem, and,

circuit breaker points supported on said support plate adjacent said breaker cam and responsive to the rotation of the breaker cam to open or close an electrical circuit.

6. A support for distributor points for an internal combustion engine comprising a platform member, a breaker arm assembly including a rubbing block member connected to the platform member, and said platform member including means for freely rotatably supporting a breaker cam adjacent the rubbing block member.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the breaker cam is movable with respect to the rubbing block in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the breaker arm.

8. The invention of claim 6 and further including a platform for storing and shipping said support having a centrally located opening sized to receive the support breaker cam, and a second opening sized and positioned to receive a portion of the breaker arm assembly, whereby the support is maintained in a fixed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT S. MACON, Primary Examiner. H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 20031 

